“Anything that can be measured with value can be made to submit, as long as the price paid is high enough. In the eyes of those who are used to playing with power, everyone has a price.”
Su Mu felt that they were at least people who could reach the high levels of society…
“Didn’t they ever think that there are many people who do good without seeking reward?”
At those words, Su Mu couldn’t help but feel her mind racing.
Tang Nai chuckled softly.
“True. In their eyes, my father was such a simple person — an idealistic hero who could be coaxed with a few kind words. But regardless, as a Familiar, he was extremely dangerous. Carrying the authorities of so many Witches, who could guarantee he wouldn’t lose control? So, they used both carrots and sticks, eventually convincing him to separate those authorities. That way, others could keep his power in check and avoid an irreparable tragedy.”
At this point, Tang Nai’s tone became contemptuous, as if mocking those ignorant fools.
“But having said that, what they craved most was to get some personal leverage over my father. No matter how strong someone is, once a fatal weakness is seized, they are nothing more than a tiger in a cage or a horse on a leash, with no power to resist. They held onto such foolish notions, and after getting a taste of success, their actions became increasingly arrogant.”
“Until one day, they were invited to a feast — a ridiculous Hongmen banquet. Every dish on the table was laced with drugs. Normally, common drugs couldn’t affect anyone at B-rank or above, which was why they weren’t on guard… but those drugs were unexpectedly effective.”
Tang Nai’s face darkened, and her voice grew even softer.
“That’s also why I especially hate Tang Yin, because those drugs came from her research. Though she wasn’t aware of it herself — back then, she was just a little girl obsessed with research. As long as someone provided the resources, she was happy to do it. Whatever those people wanted, she was glad to create, no matter how suspicious or alarming the research seemed.”
“But Mother… she was different. Under the effects of those drugs, she lost all her abilities, including her perception of Magic Power. It was just like being suppressed by Senior Ya’s authority — an ability user was completely turned into an ordinary person.”
Hearing this, Su Mu subconsciously looked toward Su Ya’s room, a faint sense of unease rising in her heart.
But from Tang Nai’s tone, it didn’t seem like she intended to link this to Su Ya.
“The Hongmen banquet failed miserably. My father was originally an honest man who was easily deceived, but from then on, he no longer trusted those people. Mother’s body gradually recovered, but it left behind aftereffects. She would fall into states of weakness from time to time, becoming so frail that even an ordinary person could bully her. Since then, Father no longer agreed to let her continue being a Magical Girl. However, Mother would still participate in charity work now and then as the wife of a wealthy man, donating the money our family couldn’t spend in several lifetimes.”
Speaking of money, a tiny light seemed to flicker in Tang Nai’s eyes.
“But I’m different. I’m a born villain, a bad seed. Back then, I particularly liked money because I found that any annoying person could be dealt with if you gave them enough benefits — you could even make them a willing dog. That feeling is addictive. Before I knew it, I learned how to be calculating. However much Mother spent, I would earn back even more, sometimes several times the amount. But Mother didn’t like that side of me. So, for occasions involving money, like when she attended charity galas, she usually wouldn’t bring me along. Otherwise, I’d easily ruin the mood.”
Su Mu felt her sleeve tighten.
Turning around, she saw Tang Nai’s small hand gripping her fabric.
“That terrible decision… even though I told her long ago that most so-called charity galas are just groups of people who don’t know how to spend their money. They look like events for charity, but behind the scenes, they might be laundering money or even involving illegal acts.”
“But she was a Magical Girl after all, and she never believed me. I told her that sometimes those people might have ill intentions, using the occasion to show off their wealth, but she never listened. The more I said it, the more it piqued her curiosity. Instead of giving me a chance to prove it, she boarded that yacht at sea alone.”
“Coincidentally, she really did encounter something. Unfortunately, after she neutralized the armed forces, she fell into a state of weakness because she hadn’t used her abilities for too long. After that, some sickening things happened to her. You know, Magical Girls can maintain their beauty even as they age, and for most ordinary people — even billionaires — opportunities to come into contact with a Magical Girl are rare.”
Hearing this, Su Mu’s gaze sharpened.
To be honest, under Tang Nai’s protection, she and the other Magical Girls rarely had to deal with ordinary people, but she had long since sensed the hidden rot in human hearts online.
Humans have an inherent dark side.
Though it doesn’t prevent them from having shining moments, that is why there is a distinction between heaven and hell.
When surrounded by beauty, one is in heaven; when shrouded in malice, one falls into hell.
Tang Nai’s mother walked through hell once and could never return to heaven again.
“Afterward, Mother fell very ill — the same illness I have. The similarity was that medicine wasn’t very effective; the difference was that she had already developed symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Even if the person touching her was Father, she would still scream and drive him away with magic. When she was clear-headed, she would sorrowfully try to make amends, but this only deepened Father’s pain. He didn’t understand why the family he protected was venting such malice toward him.”
“One day, while we were having lunch together, he suddenly said something strange.”
“‘Perhaps we and ordinary people can no longer be considered the same species. That’s why it’s difficult to understand each other. But to coexist, we don’t necessarily need understanding; obedience works too.'”
“Looking back now, from that moment on, he was no longer a father but the terrifying existence known as the Demon King. The Demon King loves his family more than ever before, and all the remaining heartlessness is reserved for his enemies.”
Tang Nai described it calmly.
By this point, she had regained her composure, able to recount those emotional, painful, and resentful past events in a poetic tone.
But Su Mu, who was holding her tightly, could clearly sense that Tang Nai’s petite body had been trembling slightly in her arms for a long time.
Like a girl sensitive to the cold, shivering in a bitter icy wasteland.
Her skin constantly transmitted a chill that Su Mu absorbed entirely.
Su Mu remained silent for a moment, then asked softly, “Does it… feel better to say it out loud?”
“Probably. I haven’t really mentioned it to anyone before you. After all, who wants to hear a story that glorifies the Demon King? I knew they would be disappointed, so I just stopped talking about it.”
Tang Nai gently pried away Su Mu’s hands that were wrapped around her slender waist and stepped down from her lap.
Just as she was about to sit back across from her, Su Mu grabbed her and pulled her back.
“You’re still very cold.”
Tang Nai was speechless and had no choice but to sit obediently in Su Mu’s arms.
It felt a bit strange, as if she were being looked after by an older sister, even though she was always the eldest.
But it wasn’t bad.
“As I thought, you have great potential as a Magical Girl. You might even make a quite good leader because you are indeed… very gentle.”
“I just can’t stand to see a child cry.”
Su Mu mimicked Tang Nai’s tone, saying something teasing.
But Tang Nai didn’t get upset; instead, she blankly touched the corner of her eye.
She didn’t feel any moisture.
“I wasn’t crying.”
“That’s because I’m doing such a good job.”
Su Mu playfully shifted the conversation toward a less heavy direction.
As if following her lead, a faint smile actually graced the corners of Tang Nai’s mouth.
“Do you have any idea what the price for provoking me is?”
“I don’t care. With your tiny body, what can you do to me?”
Tang Nai reached out and gave Su Mu’s side a light pinch, causing the latter to instantly lose her composure.
She gave a sly smile.
“What will happen? I’m not sure myself, but I can be certain of one thing — I understand your weaknesses better than anyone… which means to subdue you, a single finger is all it takes!”
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